Chapter 400 - Zhu Wens Choice (1/2)
The plan of the White Deer Sect determined the keynote of Li Ye’s contention for the world, or when Li Ye adopted the plan, it set his attitude toward the current court. Li Ye had no feelings for the court. All he needed to do was to ensure Li Yan’s safety.
Li Maozhen deployed troops outside Chang’an City. Whether he would attack the city or not, with Yang Fuguang and others present, Chang’an City would at least be safe and secure for the moment. Even if Li Maozhen abducted Li Yan to Fengxiang, the latter’s safety was guaranteed for a few years. If Li Maozhen did not become the emperor, Li Yan would not be in danger.
If Li Maozhen held the emperor captive and was in command of the nobles, Li Ye would be in a passive position. He did certainly not want to see that.
Therefore, Li Ye needed to command the troops to quickly capture the entire territory of Hedong and defeat Li Keyong’s remaining forces, which had fled to the north. Only in this way, would he be free to deal with the situation in the Central Plains and Guanzhong.
At the same time, Li Ye let the Black Office sneak into Guanzhong and investigate Li Maozhen to find out who was behind him. If there was no Cultivator Group of the Immortal Realm beside him, Li Ye did not mind capturing him directly.
But the odds were not in its favor.
The next day, Li Xian rode alone, leaving Taiyuan City and heading west.
Although Li Xian asked Li Ye not to send him off, Li Ye gazed after him, from top of the city wall, when he left the city.
After a great battle, inside and outside the Taiyuan City, there were only patrolling guards and rangers around from time to time. There were no pedestrians on the official road.
Willows grew on both sides of the empty official road. Li Xian led the horse farther and farther away, dust rising all the way.
He was like a lonely, chivalrous person leaving on a long journey, desolate and heroic.
Although Li Xian’s back was no longer visible, Li Ye still stood on top of the city wall.
He had never felt more uncomfortable since his transmigration.
Something unclear and unknown had already fallen on his shoulders when he became Li Ye in this life. If this was fate, he had no way to escape.
Song Jiao came over to Li Ye, her purple robe fluttering in the breeze. Her gorgeous face looked like a pool of autumn water. There seemed to be something hovering in her clear eyes and pretty red lips, at this moment.
After a long while, she whispered, “Sometimes, I envy him. “He always knows who he is and what he should do. Even if he lives in such a turbulent time, he does not feel bitter. Sometimes I pity him because he takes too much on himself. Even if he has the ability to rule the country, he will only make blunders in this chaotic world.
“There are so many heroes in the world, but few people can understand his mind. Even if many people shed blood with him, their desires differ from his. He is destined to walk alone in this life.”
Li Ye muttered for a long time and sighed, “He carries a heavy responsibility, but he does not think of himself at all. Probably only he knows whether it’s sad or happy.”
Having said this, they both fell silent.
There were many people around Li Ye, all kinds of friends and companions. There were reincarnated immortals and saints from the demon clan. However, when it came to delicate thoughts and sympathy, no one could equal Song Jiao, who became mature and wise, after going through life’s ups and downs.
The so-called empathy of a woman did not belong to a young woman at all. No matter how smart a young woman was, she only knew what concession was. No matter how kind an innocent woman was, she only knew dedication.
Whether it was concession or dedication, it was difficult for that to last.
Without experiencing changes and suffering, and getting hurt in this life, nobody could become mature and wise, in this materialistic and bizarre world.
After a while, Song Jiao gathered her black hair which was fluttering in the breeze. Her soft and tender voice gradually diminished. “I just received an urgent report that the Xuanwu Army, who had previously assembled on the banks of the river, has advanced eastward and has moved toward Pinglu a few days ago!”
It was amazing news, but Li Ye did not say anything after that. He closed his eyes and visualized the locations of the vassal states in the Central Plains and mountains and rivers in his mind, trying to sort out Zhu Wen’s lines for seeking hegemony.
Soon, Li Ye opened his eyes, revealing a sharp light. He spoke forcefully, “In the Tang Empire, there are dozens of vassal states. The strongest are Pinglu, Hedong, Xuanwu, Fengxiang, and the other troops. Xichuan, Huainan, Youzhou are a little weak. Among the vassal states, Pinglu is the most distinguished. To be precise, it is the most revered.
“The topography of the world is like a chessboard- with its golden corners, silver edges and grassy belly. Pinglu is at the east of Mount Tai. It is a corner of the chessboard. Those who have obtained Pinglu from ancient times can direct their troops to each of the four sides. If the troops go northward, they can reach the old places of the State of Yan and the State of Zhao and sweep across 16 prefectures, including the prefecture of You, the prefecture of Yun, and others. If they can capture the land of San Jin in Hedong, they can dominate the north and overtake the world. To the south, they can reach Huai Si and get the land of the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River. They can sit on the Huai River and intimidate Jiangnan. If they direct troops to the Central Plains, they can drive straight in, sweep through the hinterland of Henan, and then seek to enter Guanzhong and gain supremacy.